An apparatus includes a separation deck free of stepwise changes in elevation between a first end and a second end, the separation deck comprising a plurality of spaces through which a constituent material may pass, a plurality of scrubbers disposed on the deck, the plurality of scrubbers having a first end disposed at a higher elevation than the deck in at least a first state, and a vibratory generator coupled to the deck. The mixed material moves over the deck and the scrubbers from the first end to the second end by the motion imparted by the vibratory generator. Components of the mixed material move relative to each other as the components move over the scrubbers, thereby causing the constituents material attached to the components of the mixed material to separate and pass through the spaces in the separation deck.
|
10. A method of separating a mixed material into constituent materials, the method comprising:
moving a mixed material along a separation deck, the separation deck free of stepwise changes in elevation between a first deck end and a second deck end, the separation deck comprising a plurality of spaces through which a constituent material may pass;
contacting the mixed material with a plurality of scrubbers disposed on the deck, the plurality of scrubbers having a first end disposed at a higher elevation than the deck in at least a first state,
components of the mixed material moving relative to each other as the components move over the scrubbers, thereby causing the constituents material attached to the components of the mixed material to separate and pass through the spaces in the separation deck;
transporting at least a portion of the mixed material moving over the deck and the scrubbers into a furnace; and
burning the at least a portion of the mixed material transported into the furnace.
1. An apparatus for separating a mixed material into constituent materials, the apparatus comprising:
a separation deck free of stepwise changes in elevation between a first deck end and a second deck end, the separation deck comprising a plurality of spaces through which a constituent material may pass;
a plurality of scrubbers disposed on the deck, each of the plurality of scrubbers comprising a cam having a first end that is movable relative to the deck such that, in a first state, the first end of the cam is disposed at a higher elevation than the deck; and
a vibratory generator coupled to the deck,
the mixed material moving over the deck and the scrubbers from the first deck end to the second deck end by the motion imparted by the vibratory generator,
components of the mixed material moved relative to each other as the components move over the scrubbers, thereby causing the constituents material attached to the components of the mixed material to separate and pass through the spaces in the separation deck.
4. A system comprising:
a separator for separating a mixed material into constituent materials, the apparatus comprising:
a separation deck free of stepwise changes in elevation between a first deck end and a second deck end, the separation deck comprising a plurality of spaces through which a constituent material may pass;
a plurality of scrubbers disposed on the deck, the plurality of scrubbers having a first end disposed at a higher elevation than the deck in at least a first state; and
a vibratory generator coupled to the deck,
the mixed material moving over the deck and the scrubbers from the first deck end to the second deck end by the motion imparted by the vibratory generator,
components of the mixed material moved relative to each other as the components move over the scrubbers, thereby causing the constituents material attached to the components of the mixed material to separate and pass through the spaces in the separation deck; and
a furnace coupled to the separator, at least a portion of the materials moving over the deck and the scrubbers of the separator being directed into the furnace.
2. The apparatus according to
3. The apparatus according to
5. The system according to
another separator for separating a mixed material into constituent materials, the another separator comprising:
a separation deck free of stepwise changes in elevation between a first deck end and a second deck end, the separation deck comprising a plurality of spaces through which a constituent material may pass;
a plurality of scrubbers disposed on the deck, the plurality of scrubbers having a first end disposed at a higher elevation than the deck in at least a first state; and
a vibratory generator coupled to the deck,
the mixed material moving over the deck and the scrubbers from the first deck end to the second deck end by the motion imparted by the vibratory generator,
components of the mixed material moved relative to each other as the components move over the scrubbers, thereby causing the constituents material attached to the components of the mixed material to separate and pass through the spaces in the separation deck
the another separator coupled between the separator and the furnace, at least a portion of the materials moving over the deck and the scrubbers of the another separator being directed into the furnace.
6. The system according to
storage coupled to the another separator, at least a portion of the materials moving over the deck and the scrubbers of the another separator being directed into the storage.
7. The system according to
8. The system according to
a trough comprising a plurality of trough segments, each trough segment comprising opposing plates, opposing spaced edges of the opposing plates of each trough segment defining, in part, a discharge opening; and
a vibratory generator coupled to the trough.
9. The system according to
11. The method according to
moving the mixed material over the ramps from the first end to the second end of the ramps as the mixed material moves from the first end to the second end of the deck.
12. The method according to
moving the mixed material from the first end to the second end of the deck as the first end of the cam is moved between a second state wherein the first end of the cam is disposed at an elevation at least equal to that of the deck and the first state.
13. The method according to
feeding a mixed material onto the separation deck, the mixed material comprising billet and sand or dirt.
14. The method according to
feeding a mixed material onto the separation deck, the mixed material comprising bagasse and sand or dirt.
15. The method according to
transporting at least a portion of the mixed material moving over the deck and the scrubbers into storage.
16. The system according to
17. The system according to
18. The system according to
|
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/763,716, filed Jan. 31, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety in the present application.
This patent is directed to apparatuses and methods for separating mixed materials, and, in particular, to apparatuses and methods for separating mixed material utilizing a vibratory generator.
It is not uncommon for materials to be processed or that have been processed to include more than one material component. A smaller component may become attached to the surface of a larger component, for example, where the larger component has an irregular surface or a surface on which a sticky or tacky material is disposed. As one such example, dirt and sand may become attached to harvested crops, which crops may need to undergo further processing before they are packaged and sold to the consumer.
One method by which the materials may be separated from each other (e.g., the sand and dirt separated from the crops) is through washing. That is, one or more streams or jets of water or other solvent may be directed on or through, for example, the crops to separate the sand and dirt from the crops. Alternatively, the crops may be passed through an enclosed body of water or other solvent, such as a tank or bath. The washed crops can then be processed, and the stream of waste water, sand and dirt can be collected for disposal.
Unfortunately, washing with water or other solvents can have drawbacks. It is often the case that the water or other solvent can carry away not only the targeted component of the mixed material (e.g., the sand and dirt), but it may carry away other components of the mixed material as well. For example, by washing harvested crops, undesirable materials, such as phosphates (which may be used in conjunction with the crops as a fertilizer), may be carried away in the waste water. This may make disposal of the waste water more difficult. As another example, materials that would have commercial value, such as the juice of the harvested product, may be carried away in the waste water stream.
Consequently, it is desired to have alternative apparatuses and methods for separating mixed materials into their components.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for separating a mixed material into constituent materials includes a separation deck free of stepwise changes in elevation between a first end and a second end, the separation deck comprising a plurality of spaces through which a constituent material may pass, a plurality of scrubbers disposed on the deck, the plurality of scrubbers having a first end disposed at a higher elevation than the deck in at least a first state, and a vibratory generator coupled to the deck. The mixed material moves over the deck and the scrubbers from the first end to the second end by the motion imparted by the vibratory generator. Components of the mixed material move relative to each other as the components move over the scrubbers, thereby causing the constituents material attached to the components of the mixed material to separate and pass through the spaces in the separation deck.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system includes a separator for separating a mixed material into constituent materials, the separator including a separation deck free of stepwise changes in elevation between a first end and a second end, the separation deck comprising a plurality of spaces through which a constituent material may pass, a plurality of scrubbers disposed on the deck, the plurality of scrubbers having a first end disposed at a higher elevation than the deck in at least a first state, and a vibratory generator coupled to the deck. The mixed material moves over the deck and the scrubbers from the first end to the second end by the motion imparted by the vibratory generator. Components of the mixed material move relative to each other as the components move over the scrubbers, thereby causing the constituents material attached to the components of the mixed material to separate and pass through the spaces in the separation deck. The system may also include, for example, a furnace coupled to a separator, at least a portion of the materials moving over the deck and the scrubbers of the separator being directed into the furnace.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a method of separating a mixed material into constituent materials includes moving a mixed material along a separation deck, the separation deck free of stepwise changes in elevation between a first end and a second end, the separation deck comprising a plurality of spaces through which a constituent material may pass, and contacting the mixed material with a plurality of scrubbers disposed on the deck, the plurality of scrubbers having a first end disposed at a higher elevation than the deck in at least a first state. Components of the mixed material move relative to each other as the components move over the scrubbers, thereby causing the constituents material attached to the components of the mixed material to separate and pass through the spaces in the separation deck.
Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.
The system 30 includes a receiving subsystem 32, a distributor 34, a billet conveyor/separator 36, and a baggasse conveyor/separator 38. Of these various subsystems of the system 30, the distributor 34, the billet conveyor/separator 36 and the bagasse conveyor/separator 38 are explained in greater detail below with reference to the Figures. The system 30 is illustrated in combination with a mill 40, storage 42 and a boiler furnace 44, the structure and operation of which in combination with the system 30 is also discussed in greater detail below.
Generally, in harvesting sugar cane, the entire sugar cane stalk is removed from the ground, occasionally even upending the roots of the plant, referred to as the root ball. The stalk is then cut into sections referred to as billet (nominal 12 inch length). The billet tends to be tacky to the touch. As a consequence of the tackiness of the billet and other causes, such as the inclusion of billet with rootballs still attached, a substantial amount of dirt and sand (e.g., 5-11% by weight) becomes attached to the billet, and is transported along with the billet to the receiving subsystem 32.
The receiving subsystem 32 may include a hopper (not shown) into which the billet is loaded from the transport, typically a trailer or a railcar. The receiving subsystem 32 further may include conveyors (not shown), which may be vibratory conveyors, belt conveyors, etc. The conveyors move the billet from the hopper to the distributor 34.
The distributor 34 receives the incoming stream of billet from the receiving subsystem 32, and spreads the billet stream out over a wider front than that of the conveyors used in the receiving subsystem 32. The distributor 34 may also cause the billet stream to change direction, to make a right turn, for example. While the distributor 34 is not necessary to the operation of the billet conveyor/separator 36, the operation of the distributor 34, especially the spreading out of the billet stream over a wider front, facilitates the operation of the billet conveyor/separator 36. It will be recognized that the billet conveyor/separator 36 must be of a suitable width to accommodate the spreading of the billet stream over a wider front, which width may be provided by using a plurality of individual conveyor/separators 36 in parallel.
The billet conveyor/separator 36 includes a series of separation decks and scrubbers, as is explained in greater detail below. In summary, a vibratory generator is coupled to the separation decks, and the movement of the billet across the separation decks causes the dirt and sand to become separated from the billet. Additionally and advantageously, the scrubbers cause the billet to interact, thereby enhancing the separation of the dirt and sand from the billet. Two material streams exit the billet conveyor/separator: billet, which includes billet that is substantially free of dirt and sand but may still have some dirt and sand attached, and waste, including dirt and sand. The billet is passed along to the mill 40, while a conveyor carries the waste away.
In the mill 40, the billet is shredded to string-like consistency. This string-like material is squeezed, rewetted, and squeezed again (and potentially several times more) to release the sucrose or sugar contained therein. The solids remaining after this processing are referred to as bagasse. The bagasse, which may include some fraction of dirt and sand, exits the mill, as do the cane squeezings. It is believed that the use of the billet conveyor/separator 36 assists in limiting the amount of sand and dirt in the cane squeezings, thereby reducing the amount of sand and dirt that must be removed later in the refining process.
All, some or none of the bagasse from the mill 40 may now be passed along to the bagasse conveyor/separator 38. In the alternative, all, some or none of the bagasse may be passed along to the boiler furnace 44 to be burned to provide power for the operation of the sugar cane processing system, of which the system 30 is a part. As a further alternative, the bagasse may be conveyed to a storage area 42, where it may be retained for later use in the furnace 44.
As noted above, all or some of the bagasse from the mill 40 may be passed to the bagasse conveyor/separator 38. It may be advantageous to convey the bagasse from the mill 40 to the conveyor/separator 38 to permit the conveyor/separator 38 to remove additional impurities, such as retained dirt and sand, from the bagasse prior to combustion in the furnace 44. Impurities, such as dirt and sand, can cause abrasion of the thin wall tubes of the boiler, leading to increased maintenance and shortened life expectancy for the tubes. While the separation of dirt and sand at the billet conveyor/separator 36 may have a significant positive effect on the abrasion problem, further separation in the conveyor/separator 38 may provide further positive effect.
In this regard, it will be recognized that if the primary focus of dirt and sand removal is to limit the amount of dirt and sand entering the furnace 44, it may not be necessary to include both the billet conveyor/separator 36 and the bagasse conveyor separator 38. In fact, the billet conveyor/separator 36 may be removed entirely in favor of the bagasse conveyor/separator 38, the conveyor/separator 38 providing the desired separation of sand and dirt from the bagasse, thereby limiting the amount of sand and dirt entering the furnace 44. Of course, by omitting the billet conveyor/separator 36, the amount of sand and dirt which may be passed along with the cane squeezings from the mill 40 will be higher than if the billet conveyor/separator 36 were used, although this could be obviated through the use of an alternate separation technology.
Having thus explained the system 30 in the context of the sugar cane processing system illustrated in
Turning first to
The distributor 34 includes a counterbalance 100 and a trough 102, with the trough 102 disposed beneath the counterbalance 100. Both the counterbalance 100 and the trough 102 may be attached to a frame, represented generally at 104. The position of the trough 102 beneath the counterbalance 100 and frame 104 may permit a less restricted flow of material from the distributor 34 into the billet conveyor/separators 36.
The counterbalance 100, trough 102, and frame 104 may be connected to each other by one or more links and resilient members. In particular, the trough 102 may be coupled to the frame 104 by a plurality of rigid links 106 and to the counterbalance 100 by a plurality of resilient members 108. The rigid links 106 may each be pivotally attached at a first end 110 to the frame 104 via a support structure (for example, a tube) 112 and at a second end 114 to the trough 102, and the angle formed between each rigid link 106 and the trough 102 may be an obtuse angle. The resilient members 108, which may be coil springs, may each be fixedly attached at a first end 116 to the counterbalance 100 and a second end 118 to the trough 102, and the angle formed between each resilient member 108 and the trough 102 may be an acute angle. As illustrated, the plurality of links 106 and the plurality of resilient members 108 may be disposed in pairs, with the ends 114 of the links 106 and the ends 118 of the resilient members 108 that make up each pair being attached to the trough 102 adjacent each other.
The counterbalance 100 may also be coupled to the frame 104 by rigid links 120 that are connected at a first end 122 to the counterbalance 100 and a second end 124 to the tubes 112. Additionally, the counterbalance 100 and the trough 102 may also be coupled via resilient members 126, 128, which may be springs, to the frame 104 via a support structure 130.
Coupled between the counterbalance 100 and the trough 102 is a vibratory generator 140. The vibratory generator 140 may include a motor 142 with a shaft 144. The motor shaft 144 may be coupled to a driven shaft 146 by a drive belt (not shown). The driven shaft 146 may be an eccentric shaft. Attached to the eccentric shaft 146 is a first end 148 of a link 150. A second end 152 of the link 150 is attached via a resilient member 154 to the trough 102; that is, a first end 156 of the resilient member 154 is fixedly secured to the second end 152 of the link 150, while the second end 158 of the resilient member 154 is fixedly secured to the trough 102.
As is also the case with the conveyor/separators 36, 38 described below, while one embodiment of a structure for coupling counterbalance 100, trough 102, and frame 104 and one embodiment of a vibratory generator 140 have been discussed, other structures and generators may be used according to the knowledge of one skilled in the art. For example, a different structure for connecting the base, or balancer, and trough is illustrated regarding the billet conveyor/separator 36 and the bagasse conveyor/separator 38, a modified form of which (to support from above, instead of from below, for example) may be used with the trough 102. Additionally, a brute force vibratory generator or a two-mass vibratory generator may be used according to another embodiment.
As seen in
As is also illustrated in
Turning next to
Like the distributor 34, coupled between the base 200 and the trough 202 of the billet conveyor/separator 36 is a vibratory generator 230. The vibratory generator 230 may include a motor 232 with a shaft 234. The motor shaft 234 may be coupled to a driven shaft 236 by a drive belt (not shown). The driven shaft 236 may be an eccentric shaft. Attached to the eccentric shaft 236 is a first end 238 of a link 240. A second end 242 of the link 240 is attached via a resilient member 244 to the trough 202; that is, a first end 246 of the resilient member 244 is fixedly secured to the second end 242 of the link 240, while the second end 248 of the resilient member 244 is fixedly secured to the trough 202.
As best seen in
Starting then at the leftmost end of the conveyor/separator 36, the inlet plate 266 may include one or more plates that are attached at spaced ends to the side walls 262, 264. Materials entering the conveyor/separator 36 impact the inlet plate 266 initially, as opposed to impacting one of the decks 268, 270 or the scrubbers 272. This is believed to limit the exposure of the decks 268, 270 and scrubbers 272 to the force of the materials falling from the distributor 34.
The decks 268, 270 are configured with a plurality of apertures defined therein to permit smaller items to pass through the decks 268, 270 and be collected on the floor 260 (on which may be disposed a liner) of the trough 202, and larger items to pass along the decks 268, 270. According to one embodiment, the decks 268, 270 may each be defined by one or more finger screens 280, similar to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,589, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. It will be understood that while each separation deck 268, 270 is illustrated as including two finger screens 280, a greater or lesser number of screens may be included. Likewise, it will also be understood that while finger screens 280 are illustrated in the drawings of the present embodiment, other screens may be used as well.
As is shown in greater detail in
The protrusions, or fingers, 284 define between them a plurality of spaces 292 (see
Reference is now made relative to
The cam 300 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 306 at an end 308 opposite the arcuate, leading surface 304 so as to be pivotally mounted relative to the trough 202. In this regard, the cams 300 are attached to the shaft 306 so as to rotate with the shaft 306, but so that relative rotation between the cams and the shaft 306 is limited (e.g., by keying the cams 300 to the shaft 306). The shaft 306 depends between the side walls 262, 264 of the trough 202, and is connected to the side walls 262, 264 through bearings 310. Ends 312 of the shaft 306 extend beyond the bearings 310, and permit the shaft 306 to be connected to the remainder of the scrubber 272.
The remainder of scrubber 272, which may be referred to as the drive section, is but a single example of the myriad different mechanisms that may be proposed to rotate the shaft 306, and thus the cams 300. The drive section includes an arcuate adjustment plate 320, an L-shaped rocker arm 322, and a straight link 324 (although a resilient member, e.g., a coil spring, may be used instead). The adjustment plate 320 is fixedly attached to one of the ends 312 of the shaft 306. The link 324 has a first end 326 that may be attached to one of a plurality of holes 328 in the adjustment plate 320 and a second end 330 that may be attached to one end 332 of the arm 322. The arm 322 is pivotally attached to the trough 202 by being fixedly attached to one end 334 of a shaft 336 that is pivotally mounted, using bearings 338, to the trough 202. Another end 340 of the rocker arm 334 is pivotally coupled to the base 200. As a consequence, motion of the base 200 relative to the trough 202 is transmitted through the drive section to cause the cams 300 to move.
The cams 300 may be made to move about pivot 308 between a first position, wherein the upper surface 302 is parallel the surface of the screens 280, and a second position, wherein the upper surface 302 is at an angle relative to the surface of the screens 280. In the second position, the leading surface 304 would be facing the on-coming billet stream.
It is believed that the motion of the cams 300 between the first and second positions may cause the individual billets to move relative to each other in the trough 202. It is further believed that the relative motion of the billet may cause the dirt and sand on the outer surface of the billet to be removed from the surface of the billet, or at least loosened from the surface of the billet. In any event, it is believed that the dirt and sand that has been removed or loosened from the billet is more readily separated from the billet during its traverse across the decks 268, 270.
Furthermore, it is believed that the use of the mechanical scrubbers 272 in the billet conveyor/separator 36 may assist in limiting the overall height of the conveyor/separator 36. That is, an alternative method for causing the billet to interact would be to allow the billet to fall from a higher elevation to a lower elevation in between the inlet plate 266 and the separation decks 268, 270. However, a consequence of such a method would be that the separator would need to be of a relatively large height between inlet and discharge. Through the use of the mechanical scrubbers 272, it is believed that the interaction between the billet is at least as effective as if the falling method were used, while removing the necessity of having a separator of relatively large height caused by the need to provide periodic falls from higher to lower elevation.
It should be noted that, as illustrated in
Returning now to
It will be recognized that while the billet passing through the conveyor/separator 36 has been described as a stream, it is likely the case that the movement of billet through the conveyor/separator 36 may include periods of higher or lower volume, including periods where no billet is passing through the conveyor/separator 36. In fact, the variations in volume may have an impact on the operation of the conveyor/separator 36. For instance, during times of low volume, the depth of billet in the trough 202 may decrease. In such a circumstance, the mechanical scrubbers 272, whose travel has been set to accommodate a much greater depth of billet, may cause billet to be ejected from the billet stream, and, if no other precautions are taken, from the conveyor/separator 36. As such a precaution, as illustrated in
While the billet conveyor/separator 36 has thus been described with the inclusion of mechanical scrubbers 272, other scrubbers may be used in substitution for one or both of the scrubbers 272 between the inlet plate 266 and the separation decks 268, 270. For example,
The ramp 370 includes a V-shaped angle 372 with first and second walls 374, 376 that are joined at a corner 378. The walls 374, 376 are tapered between a first end 380 and a second end 382; that is, outer edges 384, 386 of the walls 374, 376 are spaced further apart at the first end 380 than at the second end 382. The walls 374, 376 are attached at the corner 378 to a rib 388 from their first ends 380 to their second ends 382, although according to other embodiments, the attachment may be intermittent.
The ramp 370 would be installed between the inlet plate 260 and the separation decks 268, 270 by fixedly attaching the ramps 370 to a plate supported between the side walls 262, 264 of the trough 202, for example. The ramps 370 would be positioned so that the first end 380 pointed in the direction of the oncoming billet stream. The ramps 370 would be spaced from each other in the same fashion as the cams 300 are illustrated as spaced from each other in
In operation, the oncoming billet stream will abut the leading end 380 of the ramp 370 first. Motion of the billet stream will cause individual billets to move along the length of the ramp 370, from the first end 380 to the second end 382. The relative motion between the billet caused by certain billet moving along the ramps 370 is believed to have a scrubbing effect similar to that of the mechanical scrubbers 272 illustrated above.
Similar to the scrubbers 272, it is not necessary to increase the overall height of the conveyor/separator 36 with the ramps 370 as would be the case if the billet was instead permitted to fall through a series of elevations to cause the relative motion of the billet. Unlike the scrubbers 272, the ramps 370 have no moving parts, and thus may require less maintenance than the mechanical scrubbers 272. Also unlike the scrubbers 272, it is believed that the ramps 370 will not have a similar potential for ejecting billet from the conveyor/separator 36 when the depth of the billet in the trough 200 is relatively lower, as may be the case with the mechanical scrubbers 272.
Turning now to a first embodiment of the bagasse conveyor/separator 38 illustrated in
In short, this embodiment of the bagasse conveyor/separator 38 lacks the scrubbers of the billet conveyor/separator 36. Instead, a continuous separation deck 540 is used, the deck 540 including six finger screens 480 between the inlet plate 466 and the discharge plate 562. It is believed that this embodiment of the conveyor/separator 38 would be suitable where an upstream billet conveyor/separator 36 is used, as the sand and dirt to be removed at the subsequent conveyor/separator 36 should be limited.
However, as explained above, the billet conveyor/separator 36 may not be included. As a consequence, a relatively higher percentage of dirt and sand may be passed along from the mill 40 to the remainder of the system, e.g., storage 42 and furnace 44. To limit the amount of dirt and sand in the bagasse, which may thus be passed along with the bagasse to the furnace 44 when burned as fuel, the bagasse conveyor/separator 38 may be fitted with scrubbers as well.
In the bagasse conveyor/separator 38 illustrated in
Turning first to
Moreover, as illustrated in
Mathis, Jr., Oscar L., Frank, Gordon J., Kerkera, Derek
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10668478, | Sep 11 2013 | DIDION TECHNOLOGIES LLC | Multi directional rifling and multi flow variable speed rifling for liner segments for crushers, reclaimers, separators and cleaners for products |
11377302, | May 12 2016 | HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L P | Distributing powder |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
1039785, | |||
3335861, | |||
351037, | |||
3645381, | |||
3989227, | Oct 10 1974 | General Kinematics Corporation | Fluid bed blender and cooler |
4565279, | Jun 12 1981 | General Kinematics Corporation | Product accumulating conveyor apparatus and method |
4715950, | Mar 14 1984 | General Kinematics Corporation | Vibratory separation apparatus |
507971, | |||
5108589, | Mar 01 1989 | General Kinematics Corporation | Material separating apparatus |
549918, | |||
5746322, | Jul 02 1996 | ACTION EQUIPMENT CO , INC AN OREGON CORPORATION | Vibratory finger screen with lateral wedge members |
5984105, | Jun 03 1998 | General Kinematics Corporation | Material classifying apparatus |
6453982, | Dec 20 1996 | General Kinematics Corporation | Sand cleaning apparatus |
6464082, | Aug 20 1997 | Eftek Corporation | Cullet sorting using density variations |
6729476, | Jul 23 2002 | Oscillator apparatus for sorting out pieces of lumber | |
20070068852, | |||
EP815956, | |||
FR2519886, | |||
FR2545385, | |||
FR2866527, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Jan 30 2007 | General Kinematics Corporation | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Apr 03 2009 | ASPN: Payor Number Assigned. |
Nov 05 2012 | REM: Maintenance Fee Reminder Mailed. |
Mar 24 2013 | EXP: Patent Expired for Failure to Pay Maintenance Fees. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Mar 24 2012 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Sep 24 2012 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 24 2013 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Mar 24 2015 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Mar 24 2016 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Sep 24 2016 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 24 2017 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Mar 24 2019 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Mar 24 2020 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Sep 24 2020 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 24 2021 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Mar 24 2023 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |